He said the move was necessary to reduce street crimes such as snatch thefts, unarmed robberies and unarmed gang robberies.

“We have started a joint operation in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Cheras, from July 17.”

“The operation clearly has a positive impact as the rate of street crimes in the area have lessened, as compared with before,” he said, adding that eight snatch thefts were reported in Bandar Sri Permaisuri as compared with 10 cases in the two weeks before the operation.
As the police are understaffed, Abu Samah said it had to enlist the help of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela).

On July 27, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government viewed crime prevention seriously and was focusing on efforts to reduce crime as one of the National Key Results Area under the home ministry. — BERNAMA